Train-order-catching device.



P. J. ROLFVE.

TRAIN ORDER GATGHING DEVICE. 7 APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1911.

" 1,021,745 r PatentedMar.26,1912.

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WITNESSES MOM [N VEN T OR COLUMBIA ruuoalums C0,, WASHINGTON, D. c.

I Atlorney FRANK J'- ROLFE, OF MCCOOK, NEBRASKA.

TnAIN-oRnER-oATcHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Application filed November 24, 1911. Serial N 0. 662,159.

To all whom it may concern:

citizen of the United States, residing at McCook, in the county of RedWillow and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Train-Order-Catching Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to devices for catching and holding trainorders.

It is at present the general practice for the fireman to stand upon thestep of the locomotive cab and thrust an arm through the loop of thehoop, to which the train orders are fastened, as he passes the same.This practice has proven dangerous, however, inasmuch as the fireman issometimes struck and injured by obstacles located in his path.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple andconvenient device, whereby train orders can be secured without thusexposing the fireman or other train operative to the dangers above setforth.

' A simple embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of thedevice, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

As disclosed, the device comprises a handle staff 3 having a handle grip4 at one end, and having a train order catching arm 5 secured to itsother end, and projecting at an acute angle forwardly therefrom. Thisarm 5 is preferably braced by corner pieces 6 of sheet metal, which arebolted or riveted, as shown at 7 to the staff and arm, thus rigidlysecuring the. latter to the former. In order to absorb the shock that isapt to be imparted to the device upon its engagement with the hoop ofthe train order holder, a cushion strip 8 of rubber or other yieldingmaterial is located in the angle formed by the staif and arm, and issecured to the inner sides of the same.

For the purpose of retaining the orders on the device when they havebeen caught, yielding fingers 9 are'employed, and are secured to thestaif and arm. These fingers are preferably formed of wire which arepassed through the parts, and have their ends bent against the same, asillustrated.

l The said fingers bridge the space between Be it known that I, FRANK J.RoLFE, a-

the staff and arm and have their free ends overlapped. 'In order tosecure the desired resiliency, they are preferably coiled, as shown at10, adjacent to the staff and arm. If desired for night service and ontrains having modern equipment, an electric lamp 11 may be mounted onthe handle staff 3, a suitable bracket 12 being employed for thepurpose.

The manner of using the device, it is believed, will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. The fireman or other operative who is to'catchthe order, holds the same by means of the handle grip with the staffextending rearwardly and outwardly from the locomotive. As he passes theholder for the train order, the free end of the arm 13 enters the hoop,which causes the arms 9 to springbackwardly, as indicated in dottedlines, and the hoop will consequently enter and be retained in thepocket formed by the staff 3 and arm 5. It is then manually releasedtherefrom. With this device, the operator does not have to exposehimself to any danger in making the transfer.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation andmany advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minordetails of construction, may be resorted to, without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A manually operated train order catcher, comprising a handle staffhaving-a grip at one end, and a substantially straight forwardly andoutwardly extending catching arm projecting from the rear end of thestaff and disposed at an acute angle thereto.

2. A manually operated train order catcher, comprising a handle stalf,an 'outwardly extending catching arm carried thereby, retaining meansextending into the space between the staff and arm, and a cushionlocated in the angle formed by the staif and arm and extending along thesame, substantially to the retaining means.

3. A manually operated train order catcher, comprising a handle staffhaving an angularly disposed forwardly extending train order catchingarm mounted on the rear end thereof, and yielding retaining fingersmounted respectively on the staff and arm and extending into the spacebetween the same, said fingers having their free ends overlapped.

4. A manually operated train order catcher, comprising a stafl having ahandle at its front end, and an angularly disposed train order catchingarm extending from its other end, a yielding bufier strip locatedagainst the inner sides of the staff and arm, and spring retainingfingers mounted on the stafl' and arm and extending into the spacebetween the same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FRANK J. ROLFE.

Witnesses:

F. L. WoLFr, E. E. TURNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C."

